I had my eyes squeezed shut as tight as I could. Dreamir held me by my hair. "Do it!" He said harshly, shaking me.

"No!" I said. "I won't!"

He forced my eyes open so I was staring right into the eyes of the woman. She screamed in agony and fell, dead, to the ground. The sound sent a shiver down my spine and I bursted into tears.

"Oh, stop that!" Dreamir growled. "You're useless."

"And you're heartless!" I shot back. I was seething with hatred. This was the third person he'd forced me to kill and it was getting harder each time not to lose my sanity.

I shoved Dreamir off me. "I'm done doing your dirty work. I'm going to bed." It was nearing midnight and this was that last thing I wanted to do. I put my spectacles back on.

"Just wait," he said. "I've got one last victim I want you to take care of." The doors opened and in walked a giant of a man with flame red hair and a scar running down the left side of his face. He growled at me and it sounded oddly familiar.

"Asher, I think you remember Canus."

I gulped, remembering how we had kidnapped me a few months ago. I shook my head. "Don't tempt me."

"I want you to remember how angry and sorrowful you felt when you were kidnapped," Dreamir said. "Didn't you want to kill him for the pain he caused you? You still have the scars..."

I swallowed, not sure what to do. I fingered my spectacles, knowing that if I took them off, I would be willingly killing someone. "But it was your orders," I said through a dry mouth. "The one I should be really upset with is you."

Dreamir threw up his hands in exasperation. "Just get rid of him!"

"Why," I asked. "Has he murdered anyone?"

"No," Dreamir said.

"Has he tortured anyone?"

"Well, no," Dreamir said.

"So why the death penalty? Why the death penalty for anyone?"

"Because I want to see how your power works on different people!"

"So it's just some sort of experiment?"

"Yes!" Dreamir said. "Now do it before I make you do it!"

I swallowed and turned towards Canus. He looked completely calm, like he couldn't believe I could kill him. With a shaking hand, I gripped the skepticals, and froze. I couldn't do this.

"Remember how he hurt you," Dreamir said. I still didn't move. "He brought you here."

I shook my head. "Like I said, you're orders."

"For once in your life will you do as you're told?!" Dreamir exploded. There was suddenly a sharp pain in my head. I yelped and grabbed my head. When the pain subsided, I looked towards Dreamir. "W-what was that?"

He looked surprised. "I had no idea I could do that. It must only affect you."

I shuddered at the thought of having to feel that again. My head was still ringing and it throbbed. I turned towards Dank again. He was smirking now.

"Do it, boy," Dreamir said. "Don't make me hurt you again."

I gulped, closed my eyes and took the spectacles off. There was a slight prod at my brain and my eyes flew open in panic. I was staring right into the eyes of Canus, dark and terrifying as they were.

Canus gritted his teeth and fell to the floor, writhing in agony. He didn't scream, but it took his longer to die then the woman on the floor next to him did. I closed my eyes and turned away as he grunted, then was still.

I felt cold all over and hugged myself for warmth.

"See," Dreamir said. "It wasn't that bad."

I glared at him and walked to my room. He didn't stop my this time.

~

After that, I hid from Dreamir. The castle was huge and I found new hiding places every day. I could even hide from Farid's bullying. I even got out of range of Dreamir controlling me. I could probably spend a week wandering the castle and never be found, there were so many places to hide and it was so gigantic. I even could hide in the pitiful garden out front.

One day, I stumbled upon a door. It was about my height and was at the end of the hallway. Never having seen it before, I wandered inside.

I was met by a pungent smell of sweat and unclean clothes and bodies. I gagged slightly and peered around a corner of a small hallway through the door. There were dozens upon dozens of men, women, and children lying on old mattresses, standing, sitting on the stone floor, all tightly packed to the point where you couldn't even walk without bumping into someone. Slaves, I thought gloomily. I was about to leave when someone caught my eye. It was Greta. I thought about going in and saying hello to her, since she was the only nice person to me in this place, but I didn't know how the other slaves would react to me. I was the prince after all. They probably hated my father, so they would hate me too.

I started to walk back, but the door opened and a tall man with dark skin and a bald head walked in. He was dressed in rags and had a dull look in his eyes. He spotted me. "Who are you?" He said in a deep voice.

"A-Asher," I said. "I didn't mean to come in here! I'm sorry! I-I was just leav-"

"The king's son?" The man spat. "We don't want you here."

I swallowed. "I know. That's why-"

"And since you're the Master's son, I guess you think you can order us around, huh? Well I'm not taking orders from you, not now, not ever."

"I want nothing to do with Dreamir," I said. "And I'm not here to order you around."

The slave narrowed his dark eyes. "How do I know you're not lying?"

"Don't worry Damien," a voice said behind me. "He's telling the truth."

I glanced behind me at Greta. She smiled slightly. "Damien's just a little...uh...too careful. He's really nice when you get to know him through." She came up beside me. "Go on, Damien. The prince meant no harm." Then she walked out the door. I followed her.

"Um, thanks for that," I told Greta.

She shrugged. "Don't mention it." She turned to me. "What were you really doing in there?"

I shrugged. "I'm still exploring the castle."

Greta nodded. "It takes some time, but you get used to it." She stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh my gods," she whispered. "Your Majesty, I am so sorry that I'm speaking with you like an equal." She curtsied low. "My punishment is of you're choice."

I blinked. "Uh, punishment for what?"

"I am a slave, sire," Greta said with a tremble in her voice. "I had no right to make my position as high as yours."

"Greta," I said. "I'm not going to punish you."

Greta glanced up. "Y-you know my name?"

I nodded. "I never forget a face."

She smiled and straightened, a little hesitantly. "Of course, sir."

"Please," I said. "Call me Asher."

Greta shook her head. "I could get beat for that."

"Okay," I said. "How about when there's no one else around, like now?"

Greta's eyes widened and she leaned in. "Even the walls have ears."

I swallowed. "But...but I want, no, I need a friend."

It was Greta's turn to be confused. "You want to be friends with...with me?" I nodded. "B-but, I can't. I'm a slave. I'm not allowed to even be speaking with you."

I sighed. "It was worth a shot."

Greta gave a small, sad smile. "I have to go, but I hope I see you again, Asher. Uh, I mean Sire."

I smiled sadly back at her. "Goodbye, Greta." When she was out of sight, I drooped a little. I didn't know what it was about her, but it was a familiarity that made me feel warm inside.

As I walked back through the halls, I ran into Farid. "King's been looking for you," he said.

"I know," I mumbled.

"It would be my honor if I could escort his majesty back to his daddy," he said with a sarcastic bow. I rolled my eyes and ignored him, on my way back to the throne room. However, Farid's foot got in my way. He swung it and knocked my legs out from under me, sending me sprawling flat on my face. Farid just laughed and tread on my fingers. "Well, keep up," he said.

I growled as I stood up, nursing my injured hand. I wished so badly to wipe that smug look off his ugly face. He might have been the only person I would have willingly killed.